London, May
19, 2016 -- The final piece to this year’s Molson Pace puzzle has fallen into
place with the announcement that $1.7 million career winner McWicked will join
seven other outstanding rivals in the $150,000 event next Friday night at The
Raceway in London.
The
five-year-old son of McArdle, who now hails in the Steve Elliott Stable, will
come into the race fresh off a pair of winning qualifiers and one pari-mutuel
start this season. He finished just five lengths back of Always B Miki and Mel
Mara in last weekend’s flashy 1:48.4 mile in the Open Pace at The Meadowlands.
McWicked
took his 1:47.3 record at age three in winning the $500,000 Hempt Memorial
Final at Pocono Downs. That same season, he posted victories in the Adios,
Breeders Crown and Progress Pace Final and was voted Three-Year-Old Pacer of
the Year in both Canada and the US. He has 15 wins and 35 on-the-board finishes
to his credit in 44 career races.
Rockin In
Heaven, who was a recent fourth-place finisher in the Confederation, will be
the ‘also eligible’ in the field in the event of a scratch. The combined
earnings of this year’s Molson Pace field is more than $9 million.
“We are
extremely happy with the field we’ve assembled considering we are in the midst
of a very busy time in the season for older horses,” said Racing Manager Greg
Blanchard. “There are some familiar faces but some new ones in the mix this
year. It’s a very talented and well balanced field with plenty of half-mile
prowess. It should produce not only a great race but a very enticing wagering
proposition.”
The post
position draw will take place this Monday on The Raceway’s pre-game show which
airs at 5:45 p.m. (E.T.)
The Molson
Pace undercard is a strong one, featuring four City of London Series Finals, a
pair of Alliance Series finals and Gold divisions for three-year-old colt
pacers in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS). Total purses for the night will be
more than $500,000.
As always,
there will be lots happening on track that night including Scratch and Win
program prizes, OSS ‘Be A Winner Contest’, Party On The Patio, Molson VIP
Infield event and much more. The wagering menu has been bolstered to include a
$5,000 guaranteed early Pick-3, $10,000 guaranteed early Pick-4, $15,000
guaranteed late Pick-4 and the addition of a third Super Hi-5 – all low 15%
takeout wagers.
For full
details, visit www.molsonpace.com.
Here is
this year’s Molson Pace field in alphabetical order:
All Bets Off
Bettor Rock On N
Evenin Of Pleasure
Machtu N
McWicked
P H Super Cam
State Treasurer
Sunfire Blue Chip
AE: Rockin In Heaven
